CHENNAI: Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the issue of detention of fishermen and impounding of their boats at the ‘highest diplomatic level’ with Sri Lanka, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday sought early action for a permanent solution to the problem and long-term diversification measures on a ‘war footing’.
In the wake of 12 fishermen from Jagathapattinam and Kottaipattinam in Pudukottai district apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in the early hours of Sunday, Palaniswami shot off yet another letter to the Indian Prime Minister seeking his immediate intervention to get the fishermen and their boats released.
“I reiterate that the issue of apprehension of our fishermen and release of their boats be taken up at the highest diplomatic level and the Government of India take necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of our fishermen,” Palaniswami urged. He also sought the Prime Minister to send a firm, clear, unequivocal and unambiguous message to Sri Lanka to put an end to the arrest of fishermen. The livelihood of the fishermen should be protected.
The Chief Minister referred to the meetings the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister and fishermen representatives had with External Affairs Minister recently. “The most recent act of the Sri Lankan Navy again created ‘anxiety’ and ‘unrest’ in the minds of our fishermen and vitiates the atmosphere of hope which was generated as a result of these meetings,” he stated.
Reminding the Prime Minister over a memorandum he had submitted seeking Rs 1,650 crore financial package for improving the socio-economic status of fisher folk, the Chief Minister appealed to Modi to sanction the sum at the earliest. “Early action on reaching a permanent solution and long term diversification measures must be taken on a war footing,” he said.